With so many different styles of interior design, it’s important to put them in context. Certain styles influenced others, will some are rejections of older ideals. Here’s a quick look at some of the most popular styles today and where they came from.

Not all of us can live in a 4,000-square-foot megahome unless we’re able to get one that’s been abandoned due of foreclosure. Having said that, if you reside in a little apartment or perhaps a smaller home, your house shouldn’t be crammed with huge furniture. You need to to find cool, small furniture pieces that utilize space smartly and serve multiple purposes.

From a couch that turns into a bed to a cabinet that transforms into a desk, listed here are ten furniture pieces for people who live in small places – and have no intention to shift to a bigger place.

It doesn’t matter whether you live in a tiny studio apartment or a home with enough square footage to comfortably house a family of seven, everyone faces storage challenges. Enormous plastic storage bins are unwieldy and inconvenient, as well as being less than aesthetically pleasing. You probably won’t want them out in the open, but if you’ve got a lot of them, keeping them out of sight might be an issue. Fortunately, there are a lot of great ways to get creative with storage. Why not ditch the Rubbermaid and try some of these storage solutions instead?

1. Trunks – Ranging in size from a small suitcase to a portable wardrobe, trunks can be used to store out of season clothing or extra bedding. They look great in bedrooms, and can do double duty as a bench or a nightstand. They’re also functional and fun in living rooms. Why not replace your coffee table with a trunk? Vintage junkies rejoice when they find an old steamer in great shape, but due to their popularity, you can also buy brand new reproductions of these old favorites.

2. Storage ottomans – Whether you prefer the footstool style or one that can work as a bench or coffee table, storage ottomans are perfect for guest bedding, books, or all of those family photos you haven’t gotten around to sorting into albums, yet. You can even find them in kid-friendly prints, and they’re a great looking alternative to a clunky toy box.